WESTON, Mass. – Regis College controlled possession for a majority of the second half but could not find the equalizer as Lesley University handed the Pride a 1-0 setback in New England Collegiate Conference men's soccer action on Saturday afternoon. The Pride fall to 4-4-1 overall and 0-1 in the NECC, while Lesley improves to 2-6 and 1-1 in league games.
Lesley's Tyler Zielinski (Belleville, N.J.) scored a goal in the 17th minute of the game that stood up as the lone tally and eventual game-winner for the Lynx. Zielinski scored on a one-timer following a rebound on a shot from Chris Anderson (San Francisco, Calif.).
The Pride had chances early in the game as Derek Triana (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) beat his defender 1-on-1 in the 10th minute of the game and slipped a shot passed the keeper that trickled just wide of the mark. Nearly three minutes later, Trevor Hamilton (Winchester, Mass.) worked the ball down the left side and lofted a cross into the box that found the foot of Triana, however, the freshman's one-touch shot went high over the net and the score remained 0-0.
Following a foul by the Pride, Lesley was awarded a free kick and Anderson fired a shot on frame that Regis keeper Manny Santiago (Bristol, Conn.) punched away. The ball caromed out to Zielinski and the senior fired a laser over the outstretched hands of Santiago and into the back of the net.
Triana had another chance with 12 minutes to play in the half as Santiago booted the ball deep into Lesley territory and it was flicked on by Brendan Plasczynski (Bristol, Conn.). Triana found himself alone with the keeper and tried the same shot he had before, unfortunately with similar results as the ball missed just wide of the mark.
Regis held an 8-2 advantage in shots in the second period and had their chances, but unfortunately came away empty handed. Triana had another chance in the 71st minute, as he turned and fired a quick shot on the Lesley keeper Chase Donley (Elizabethtown, Pa.), but Donley was there to make the stop and keep the Pride off the board.
In the 79th minute, Marek Kotecki (Milton, Mass.) took a free kick for the Pride from about 35 yards out, but his shot was lofted high, and sailed just over the crossbar and landed on top of the net. The Pride would get off three shots in the final two minutes of play, but none would find their mark as the Lynx held on for the 1-0 win.
Regis held a 16-10 advantage in shots and took four corner kicks to Lesley's two. The game was marred with stoppages as there were 29 fouls called and eight yellow cards handed out.
Donley recorded six saves on the day for his second win and second shutout of the season. Manny Santiago also made six stops in the setback.
The Crimson and Gold are back in action on Wednesday night when they host Eastern Nazarene College in a 7:30 p.m. match. Lesley will travel to Wentworth on Wednesday as well when they take on the Leopards at 7:00 p.m.